deem

deem — verb

1. to reach a conclusion or make an assessment about someone or something based on

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to reach a conclusion or make an assessment about someone or something based on your own judgment, standards, or criteria, rather than on measurable or proven facts

Example

The committee deemed the proposal too expensive to implement this year.

active: deem + object + adjective complement

Chiara's application was deemed incomplete because she forgot to sign the form.

passive: be deemed + adjective

Common collocations
  • deem necessary
  • deem appropriate
  • deem fit
  • deem acceptable
  • deem sufficient
  • deem essential
Synonyms
  • consider

    less formal and more common; covers everyday thinking as well as formal judgment

  • regard

    similar formality but usually paired with 'as' ('regard as'), whereas 'deem' takes a direct complement

  • judge

    more active evaluation of merits or quality, often in a decision-making context

  • view

    emphasises personal perspective rather than authoritative judgment

Grammar Patterns

deem + object + (to be) + adjective/noun

be deemed + adjective

deem it + adjective + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Frequently used in passive constructions, especially in formal, legal, or academic writing. The complement after the object may or may not include 'to be' — both 'deem something important' and 'deem something to be important' are acceptable, but the shorter form is more common in modern usage.

Common Mistakes

I deem this pizza is delicious.
I think this pizza is delicious.
'deem' sounds overly formal for everyday opinions about food, taste, or personal preference.
The manager deemed the report as unacceptable.
The manager deemed the report unacceptable.
'deem' does not typically take 'as'; use a direct complement instead.

Word family

  • deemed
    adjectiveB2
  • deeming
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe forming an opinion, but they differ in register, structure, and scope. 'Consider' is the most general and neutral — it works for everyday thoughts ('consider taking the train') and formal evaluations alike. 'Deem' is distinctly formal and authoritative; it implies a judgment made by someone in a position to decide (a committee, a court, a manager). 'Regard' is similarly formal but always pairs with 'as' ('regard someone as a friend'), whereas 'deem' takes a direct complement without 'as'. 'Judge' is more active and evaluative, often carrying a sense of weighing merits against standards. 'View' is the most subjective of the set, emphasising personal perception. Use 'consider' for most everyday contexts; reserve 'deem' for official or formal written judgments such as board decisions or legal rulings.

consider ↗regard ↗judge ↗view ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • deem a proposal
  • deem an application
  • deem evidence
  • deem a decision

Adverbs

  • deem necessary
  • deem appropriate
  • deem sufficient

Phrases

  • deem it + adjective + to-infinitive
  • be deemed + adjective/noun

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'deem' comes from Old English 'dēman', meaning 'to judge, pronounce judgment, or condemn'. It is related to the word 'doom', which originally meant 'judgment' or 'fate' rather than disaster. Both trace back to the Proto-Germanic root '*dōmijaną', connected to the idea of setting or deciding. Over time, 'deem' softened from a legal term for pronouncing a formal verdict into a more general verb for forming a considered opinion.